L.A. Confidential

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L.A. Confidential

R

Released Sep 19, 1997

2h 16m

Crime

Drama

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Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

165 Reviews

94%

Popcornmeter

100,000+ Ratings

Three policemen, each with his own motives and obsessions, tackle the corruption surrounding an unsolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop in the early 1950s. Detective Lieutenant Exley (Guy Pearce), the son of a murdered detective, is out to avenge his father's killing. The ex-partner of Officer White (Russell Crowe), implicated in a scandal rooted out by Exley, was one of the victims. Sergeant Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) feeds classified information to a tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito).

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Critics Consensus

Taut pacing, brilliantly dense writing and Oscar-worthy acting combine to produce a smart, popcorn-friendly thrill ride.

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Ella Taylor

L.A. Weekly

A masterfully smart and soulful film that bows low before genre even as it betrays it.

Oct 20, 2021

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Jay Carr

Boston Globe

One of the things the film conveys, in addition to institutionalized corruption, is the energy and excitement of a city that knows it's on the move. L.A. Confidential is juicy dynamite.

Rated: 4/4

Oct 20, 2021

Full Review

David Stratton

At the Movies (Australia)

Dante Spinotti's widescreen camerawork and Jeannine Oppewall`s production design brilliantly recreate the somewhat tawdry world of a glamorous city which is starting to lose its glamour.

Rated: 4.5/5

Oct 19, 2021

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Dimitris Passas

PopMatters

L.A. Confidential‘s representation of a long-gone era in Los Angeles is exemplary, and the 1950s are enlivened on screen in an accurate and opulent manner.

Nov 28, 2023

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Keith Garlington

Keith & the Movies

The flawless ensemble..., the masterfully written story, the vibrant yet gritty vision of 1950s LA - most everything clicks in this fittingly cynical and undeniably seductive period crime thriller that still maintains its style and sizzle.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 8, 2023

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Dan DiNicola

The Daily Gazette (Schenectady, NY)

The best and richest crime-cop drama in decades... This is an instant classic.

Rated: A+

Jan 10, 2023

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Cavanagh W

For reference, I was born in 2002. I genuinely believe that this movie is timeless. This is a classic and a must watch. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The way they were able to capture the energy of LA in the 50's makes me wish I lived it.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

11/20/24

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Ted B

4.5 stars. Three cops, all with different motives, are out to solve a mass murder in an L.A. diner. The victims include a recently retired policeman and a mobster's girlfriend. The story takes place in the early 1950s when the public wanted criminals stopped, and they didn't care what methods the police used to accomplish that. With two cops pursuing different agendas and not following the rules, they try to solve the case for different reasons under their head detective, a stickler for the rules. What could go wrong?....... Everything! Everything about this movie is superb: the acting, the directing, the cinematography, the plotline, the pacing, etc. I saw this movie over twenty years ago (released in 1997) and watched it again recently. It hasn't lost anything over time. Well, you get the picture. I really liked this movie.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

10/21/24

Full Review

Eric B

The quintessential noir movie... IMO a bit too self-indulgent for my tastes to throw "masterpiece" around, but arguably the best in the genre to introduce a casual moviegoer to.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

10/05/24

Full Review

Fabrícia F

Suspense ardente, provocador e altamente perigoso. O drama da moralidade é discutida em duas horas de duração imperceptíveis que conduzem o cinéfilo ao limite. Trama ágil, misteriosa e envolvente que traz dúvidas sobre o caráter de três protagonistas em conflito, no qual, apenas um sobreviverá intacto. Clássico moderno que ocupa a galeria de obra prima do cinema com um final arrepiante.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/01/24

Full Review

Mai A

Tremendously crafted masterpiece. The kind of the movie that you feel that it is one of the best in its genre, especially when it comes to the screenplay and the ending.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/14/24

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Andrew w

A masterpiece of cinema.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/08/24

Full Review

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Curtis Hanson

Director

Kevin Spacey

Jack Vincennes

Russell Crowe

Officer Wendell 'Bud' White

Guy Pearce

Det. Lt. Edmund Jennings Exley

James Cromwell

Capt. Dudley Liam Smith

David Strathairn

Pierce Morehouse Patchett

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Synopsis

Three policemen, each with his own motives and obsessions, tackle the corruption surrounding an unsolved murder at a downtown Los Angeles coffee shop in the early 1950s. Detective Lieutenant Exley (Guy Pearce), the son of a murdered detective, is out to avenge his father's killing. The ex-partner of Officer White (Russell Crowe), implicated in a scandal rooted out by Exley, was one of the victims. Sergeant Vincennes (Kevin Spacey) feeds classified information to a tabloid magnate (Danny DeVito).

Director: Curtis Hanson
Producer: Michael G. Nathanson, Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson
Screenwriter: Curtis Hanson, James Ellroy, Brian Helgeland
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Warner Brothers, Regency Enterprises
Rating: R
Genre: Crime, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 1997, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Dec 12, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $64.6M
Runtime: 2h 16m
Sound Mix: Surround, DTS, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Scope (2.35:1)

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